Hermitage

Much of this first full day in St. Petersburg was spent in the Hermitage museum, the former Winter Palace of the tsars. Arguably the largest art collection (more than 3 million pieces) in the world. Too much marble, gilt, malachite, lapis lazuli, jasper, et al.

My cold continues but so do I, just my pace slowed to match the rest of the old crew. Lunch was our group split between two Russian families in their tiny apartments, very pleasant encountering locals so closely. Peter, the 30 something son still living with his divorced English teacher mother, proudly showed off his military knife collection, as well as his impressive sets of plastic model tanks and other military items. Yet his university deferment has kept him from his one year service obligation, while he peacefully runs his cookie business. Friendly, engaging, comfortable, but very one way as we asked all the questions.